KATE GARRAWAY coaxed co-presenter Ben Shephard into having an ice bath for charity on live TV this morning - but the joke was on her.

Following in the footsteps of professional athletes like Andy Murray, Kate suggested that Ben take a muscle-soothing ice bath following his Coast 2 Coast challenge, which saw him cycling, running and swimming 210 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth to raise money for the Children's Heart Unit Fund.

Ben had spent the morning wincing a little as he presented the show, declaring that “everything is tender” and that “friction is not your friend”.

Kate announced that she had a couple of treats for him, providing the 41-year-old with Spiderman plasters and Thomas the Tank Engine bubble bath to get him through the pain that followed the intense training of the challenge.

But the bubble bath wasn’t for a nice hot soak - instead, Kate had set up an ice bath for Ben to get into.

ITV

Ben wasn't too keen on the idea of getting into the ice bath at 8:30am

Related articles

Ben pointed out that athletes get into ice water immediately after an event, not two days later

ITV

The presenter got into the water, clearly finding it a shock to the system

The TV star didn’t seem keen at first, pointing out that athletes get into ice water immediately after an event, not two days later.

But there was too much at stake, as Kate revealed that GMB would be donating an extra injection of cash to the money he had already raised for charity.

“You can have longish trunks they don’t have to be speedos,” Kate quipped, which saw fans get over-excited at the prospect of a semi-naked Ben with one person tweeting: “Bad day to start holiday but just heard Ben Shephard will be in an ice bath at the end of the show!”

Tried & Tested: Relaxing bath oils

Lush Dreamtime Solid Bath Oil, £2.81 (lush.co.uk) This solid blend of lavender, jasmine and sandalwood dissolves under a running tap. The scent is relaxing and pampering but skin is left a little dry. 7/10

“@GMB Ben Shephard should have had his shirt off in ice bath,” one disappointed fan tweeted.

The presenter got into the water, clearly finding it a shock to the system; but he refused to do it alone.

Surprising his co-host, Ben pulled Kate into the bath with him, onto his lap, leaving her squealing and laughing.